Building a custom home can be like navigating unknown territory. Most people have never done it before. We’ve all hear horror stories of people starting out to build their dream home, but winding up with a home that’s less than satisfying. Of course, we can’t please everyone and there are a number of reasons why the custom home building process can break down, but with a good custom home builder, you can avoid this uncomfortable scenario. How do you find a good custom home builder, however? First, look for home builders in the geographic location that you’d like to build your house in. For example, you could Google “dallas custom homes” or “dallas custom home builder” to retrieve a list of local builders within your area. Once you have that list, it’s time to start knocking on doors and interviewing them. Here are just a few questions you’ll want to ask to ensure you’re working with a top-of-the-line builder.
- Have you ever operated under a different name, and how long have you been in business? Too often, builders will get in trouble and close their business simply to open up another business under a different name.
- Do you have a current license, bond and general liability insurance? The builder should be able to provide you with copies of all three.
- How many projects do you have at any one given time? If they’re handling more than three or four large projects, odds are they will not have the time to give you the attention you need. This is relative to the size of the staff, however. Many companies are large and have several project managers. Inquire how many projects each employee oversees to make sure you’ll get the quality of service you expect and the attention you need.
- Have you ever been sued or had to participate in mediation or arbitration with a client? If the answer is yes, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the guilty party. Get all the details possible to make a judgement as to whether this company is a reputable and upstanding company to work with.
- How long will it take to build my home? Obviously you want your home completed on a timeline for yourself, but understand that there are other reasons you’ll want to stick tight to a deadline. For example, the longer the construction process drones on; the more money it will cost you. Or, you can be penalized if you have a construction loan that requires you close on a certain date.
- Can I view the accounting for my home building project? You’ll want to make sure your funds aren’t getting lumped together with other projects’ funds. Being able to see where every penny went allows you to have peace of mind, and let’s you know that the company is trustworthy when it comes to accounting.
- How can you make sure I stay within my budget? You have a budget for a reason. Inquire how the builder manages staying within said budget. During each phase of the construction, do you have a meeting to go over the financial status of the project?
- Do you have a list of past and current clients I can speak to? Nothing’s better than a testimonial from an actual client. If the company doesn’t want to provide you a list of current or past clients, there may be something fishy going on.
- How can we make sure I’m involved in the approval process? Ultimately, it’s your dream home you’re building, so you’ll want to be able to put your stamp of approval on each aspect of the building process. Inquire with the builder how you tie into the project. Will you have routine “walk-throughs” during each phase of construction to make sure everything is built to your satisfacation?
- How are your warranties handled? How do you handle any other issues that may arise post-construction? You’ll want to see what types of warranties are being offered. You’ll also want to speak to a client who had to file an issue covered by the warranty to see what their experience was like. Was the company a nightmare to deal with? Was the process relatively easy? How long does it take for repairs?
